Funding Planned Parenthood: Part III

by Anne Bower

Stop STOPP

This is the final part of a three part series discussing family
planning programs in America. The anti-Planned Parenthood group
discussed this month is not the only organization trying to eliminate
funding for family planning in the U.S., but the adherents have a
tight focus and their mission is well documented, making for an
interesting case study.

Research for this article was generously supplied by Planned
Parenthood of Dutchess/Ulster. Anyone interested in original sources
should contact Willa Freiband at (914) 928-7317.

No matter what STOPP has said, they have never defeated us." That is
the message from Willa Freiband, Public Affairs Coordinator, Planned
Parenthood of Dutchess/Ulster County.

Ms. Freiband has been dealing with this particular group of religious
fanatics since they demonstrated outside of Planned Parenthood in May
of 1985. That is where she first encountered Jim Sedlak, the father
(and mother?) of STOPP.

Mr. Sedlak works at IBM in Poughkeepsie, is very computer literate and
has apparently made the rest of his life work exposing the
"International Conspiracy of Planned Parenthood to De-Populate the
World!" His plans to accomplish this were detailed at a STOPP
conference in Poughkeepsie September 22, 1990 held at Our Lady of
Lourdes High School.

STOPP's main goal is fighting Planned Parenthood everywhere in almost
every way. This is much more of a task than one would imagine,
because any person or group who supports reproductive rights, access
to birth control, or sexuality education belongs to the Planned
Parenthood Conspiracy.

When did this Conspiracy begin? Why, with Margaret Sanger, of course.
She is the author of all our 1990's social problems - promiscuity,
teen pregnancy, broken homes, etc. She promoted birth control,
abortion, Free Love, and eugenics. And every one of her beliefs are
alive and well 70 years later in all Planned Parenthood programs
throughout the world!

In a future issue, the Body Politic will
review Margaret Sanger's life
and times, but suffice it to say for now, that STOPP totally
misrepresents Planned Parenthood's philosophy and goals. STOPP's
members illustrate how simple it is to live unshackled by the bonds of
reality - no statement is too outrageous, no concept too murky, no
fantasy too unreal.

STOPP's activities in Dutchess County heated up during the 1986 County
budget hearings. Newspaper accounts tell how STOPP tried to block
funding for Planned Parenthood's education programs. In 1986 Planned
Parenthood received about $14,000 through the Youth Bureau for
programs directed at teenagers. The components of the programs were
not just reproduction and birth control but gender roles and
self-esteem.

Willa Freiband was quoted in the Poughkeepsie Journal as saying,

"I would find it hard to believe the Legislature would not agree to
fund information and education programs at a time when there is such
concern about teenage pregnancies, venereal disease and AIDS."

The appropriation sailed through the Budget and Finance Committee and
was sent to the floor for a vote on November 26th. The mandatory
public hearing before the vote was the occasion for the first large
STOPP turnout. Many Planned Parenthood opponents showed up and
dragged out the meeting for hours. One woman was quoted as saying
that those who applaud the organization, "...do not know Jesus and
they do not know God."

Willa Freiband presented lawmakers with a 660 signature petition
supporting the agency's work. An Episcopal minister read a letter of
support signed by 38 local clergy.

John Kennedy, a local anti-choice legislator, said that the public had
come out and the legislators should listen to them. "The issue comes
down to a matter of respect for people morally offended that their
taxes will subsidize Planned Parenthood."

After many hours of statements, the budget was passed and Planned
Parenthood was funded. They have continued to be funded every year
since then, and the 1990 vote was more positive than expected.

Last year Dutchess County lost 5 of its pro-choice legislators. Not
because of "choice", but because of the local financial situation.
Even with that state of affairs, Planned Parenthood won 20 of 35
votes.

However, consistent defeats have not rained on STOPP's parade. They
continue their efforts, and in 1990 held a conference to export their
organization and strategies across America.

According to Ms. Freiband approximately 100 people from around the
country attended the one day event. Guest presenters included:

Elasah Drogin, author of Margaret Sanger: Father (no mistake)
of Modern Society.

Jo Ann Gasper, formerly of U.S. HHS Dept.

Douglas Scott from the Christian Action Council

John Cavanaugh O'Keefe, Father of the Rescue Movement

Jim Sedlak, founder of STOPP, who conducted 3 workshops.

The workshops at that conference offer a fascinating look, not only
at STOPP, but a glimpse into the minds of many in the fanatical anti-
choice community. Space does not permit a thorough discussion of the
ten workshops but, there are major themes addressed throughout and
these will be explored.

Sexuality Education

It doesn't work. It never has. It never will. No one has any
statistics to prove that it does. This is the basic message from
STOPP. No monies, particularly public, should be spent on this. Kids
younger than 12 will be damaged by sex education and those over 12 can
just get a Biology course.

Ms. Freiband said that not only did STOPP oppose sex education, but
AIDS and child abuse education. Mr. Sedlack said that all a child
needs to know about preventing child abuse is that you don't let
anyone touch you where you wear a bathing suit. As far as AIDS is
concerned, all you tell anyone (presumably over the age of 12) is that
you don't exchange body fluids. Lesson finished, case closed.

Mr. Sedlak claims that Planned Parenthood uses falsified statistics to
manufacture a crisis, such as teen pregnancy, then tries to sell
people on their solution. He also seems to believe that teens have no
problem with AIDS or drug abuse. Even if they did, no one but parents
should be dealing with the problem. The challenge for STOPP members
is, "...to fight against schools becoming social agencies."

One of Ms. Freiband's mailings to the County Legislators contained the
results of a New York State poll conducted in 1986 by the Marist
College Institute for Public Opinion. The polls showed an
overwhelming support for Planned Parenthood as an organization.

Local citizens also supported Planned Parenthood and their educations
programs. Mr. Sedlak dismisses all these parents as, essentially,
dupes who have bought the Planned Parenthood line. He asserts that
Planned Parenthood infiltrated the PTA years ago and that is why so
many PTA members support the agency and sex education in general.

You can hear the fear in his voice when he sums up Planned Parenthood
sexuality education as ultimately stressing responsible sexual
decision-making! This is not allowed. Children are not to think.
Of course, Mr. Sedlak also attacked school-based health clinics and
discounted the Johns Hopkins' study that showed a 30% reduction in
teen pregnancy in Baltimore schools which had clinics. Apparently the
only statistics with validity come from the Sedlak Institute.

This is a small sample of STOPP's fear and loathing of sexuality
education. It is easy to find pity for these poor desperate people
besieged by demons attempting to steal their children.

Health Care

The mission of Planned Parenthood, delivery of health care to women in
the community, is seldom an issue for STOPP. Most of the references
to Planned Parenthood services deal with their cost - not their
benefits.

Jim Sedlak said in one workshop that Planned Parenthood claims they
are for the poor and that they do everything on a sliding scale fee,
but if you investigate you may find that's not true. They also "hide"
their Medicaid reimbursement in their budget so you don't know how
much they receive.

According to Mr. Sedlak, they charge high rates for their
contraceptives and, can you imagine, the average cost for a first
trimester abortion at Planned Parenthood is $215. "They don't give a
lot away for free."
He also claimed that 74% of income goes for salaries. This would mean
that the 19 people employed at Dutchess/Ulster Planned Parenthood
would make an average of $36,000 a year! Those who work for Planned
Parenthood will probably find this amusing.

Nowhere in Mr. Sedlak's diatribe is there any compassion or
understanding for the majority of Planned Parenthood patients - low
income women, many of whom see no other health care provider.

But surely, the woman who administered the Family Planning Program for
the federal government in the Reagan years would have some concern for
the women she served. Jo Ann Gasper, formerly of HHS, was a workshop
speaker, but her lack of compassion for Planned Parenthood patients
bordered on venomous.

She may have been responsible for administering Title X grants, but
her program was not family planning - just defunding Planned
Parenthood. At one point in her talk she recounted with glee how she
refused funding for a Nurse Practitioner program and "Planned
Parenthood was without funds for 24 hours."

Incidentally, her actions and subsequent firing set up the scenario
for the institution of the Gag Rules. (see March Body Politic).

Ms. Gasper also portrays "these low-income women" as mostly 12
year-old girls coming in to get condoms without parental approval.

The main thrust of her message to the conference was how to "blow the
whistle" on Planned Parenthood and cause them to loose Title X funds.

John Cavanaugh O'Keefe, introduced as the Father of the Rescue
Movement, characterized Planned Parenthood as "a threat to
civilization."

None of the workshop presenters were able to deal in a positive and
understanding way with the need for reproductive health care. The
uncomfortableness with sexuality that all these people share, is made
clear by their statements and tone of voice.

Population

Paranoia is most rampant during the discussions of the "non-existent
population explosion."

Doug Scott conducted a workshop entitled,
"The China Planned Parenthood Death Policy."
Apparently Planned Parenthood has
infiltrated every international family planning organization with the
intent of "de-populating the world."

Planned Parenthood is directly responsible for China's coercive
abortion policy, even though the agency has consistently spoken out
against coerced abortion or sterilization.

Mr. Scott recounted the sad story of a Dr. Lee from China whose wife
became pregnant with their second child while the doctor was in
America studying. China does have a one child policy for families and
there was great pressure exerted on the Lees to abort the pregnancy.

Dr. Lee applied for political asylum for his family when his wife had
the baby, and apparently Mr. Scott was instrumental in getting the
Lees asylum before Edwin Meese left the Justice Department.

Those who believe in choice and self-determination will applaud the
outcome of this story. However, the reality of population pressures
on the Chinese people and land is undisputable - except by STOPP.
According to John Cavanaugh O'Keefe, all population programs are
designed by Planned Parenthood and spring from their racist founder,
Margaret Sanger. He asserts that the idea the world is over-populated
is "losing credibility." Mr. O'Keefe bases this belief in part on
the fact that there are less people in the Scottish Highlands today
than centuries ago.

Space constraints do not permit a further examination of STOPP's
concepts of the world condition. Man has been a good steward of the
earth and anyone concerned about man's numbers and effect on the
planet is another Planned Parenthood dupe.

Religion

Willa Freiband said that for months STOPP portrayed themselves as just
a group of parents concerned about their children's education.
Religion had nothing to do with their movement. The conference
demonstrated that religion has everything to do with it.

Every presenter had very strong religious beliefs - most were
Catholic. Jim Sedlak said in his workshop "Forming STOPP Affiliates",

"We firmly believe that this is a religious battle. We strongly
reject anyone that says, 'you can't push religion. You have to go in
and talk about civil rights or something.' We go out as a Christian
organization and have from the first."

Mr. Sedlak cautions those thinking about forming a STOPP chapter that
they must be comfortable with proclaiming a religious battle, because,
"that is what we do." STOPP members must give "glory to God" for
everything they do.

Workshop leaders certainly held true to form. Marisa Velez who
conducted the workshop, "Fighting Planned Parenthood Sex Education
Programs", testified that the Lord was always with them and He had
planned every move they made. "Fighting Planned Parenthood makes you
a faithful steward of God's word."

During the discussion on how to cut off local government funding of
Planned Parenthood, Mr. Sedlak said, "God will decide how He wants
the legislature to vote. Our job is to proclaim His message and to
get people out to the meetings to speak."

Jo Ann Gasper said there are two Planned Parenthoods. One is an
affiliation of family planning clinics, the other a religion. Members
of the latter have "birth control" as their religion.

Helen Westover, chief organizer of Planned Parenthood pickets in
Dutchess/Ulster said about her first picket, "The Lord brings good out
of evil. There were a lot of evil feelings generated by Planned
Parenthood."

In STOPP's universe, Planned Parenthood is equated with the devil and
most who work for the agency are Secular Humanists (with only the
"birth control" God to pray too).

STOPP may not have a formal affiliate in your area, but their
philosophy is alive and well in the minds of most anti-choice
activists. The fear of living, the paranoia and the need to find a
scapegoat for social ills is a common thread of anti-choice thought.

Willa Freiband says if a STOPP chapter forms in you area, use it as a
fine opportunity to educate the public about the real message of
Planned Parenthood, then STOPP won't really get started.

Postscript

Poughkeepsie is not the only area where a Planned Parenthood is under
attack. The Rochester affiliate just sent out a mailing saying that
the local United Way, which has supported the agency for 25 years, is
on STOPP's list.

Planned Parenthood has been getting harassing letters warning them to
change their ways before it is too late. Some staff members have even
received this type of mail at home.

Greg Soehner, Executive Director said,

"Those who don't agree with
what PLanned Parenthood stands for are entitled to their opinion. But
we don't believe their inflammatory rhetoric should influence funding
decisions that could have a serious impact on the health of thousands
of women in this community."

We hope Planned Parenthood supporters in Rochester are listening.

In another part of the state, Planned Parenthood of Broome and
Chenango Counties, based in Binghamton, has just received word that
the North Atlantic Region conference scheduled for April 11-13 will be
protested by the un-defunct Operation Rescue.

Randy Terry is calling press conferences, picketing the airport,
holding rallies, and importing Joe Scheidler and Jim Sedlak to
announce the formation of a STOPP affiliate in the Binghamton area.

Randy has directed special outrage at an ecumenical service scheduled
for Saturday morning at Trinity Memorial Church. He has designated
this a service for DEATH and called it a "heresy" (who died and made
him Pope?)

Planned Parenthood and the pro-choice community are mobilizing and the
Body Politic will report on these events in the May issue.